U.S. patent number 4,021,055 [Application Number 05/675,155] was granted by the patent office on 1977-05-03 for vehicle running board.
Invention is credited to Merlyn C. Okland.
United States Patent |
4,021,055 |
Okland |
May 3, 1977 |
Vehicle running board
Abstract
A vehicle running board comprising a horizontally disposed step
portion having a support member extending upwardly from the inner
end thereof. The upper end of the support member is secured to the
vehicle cab at the lower portion thereof so that the forward end of
the running board is positioned closely adjacent the front wheel
opening. A plurality of braces are secured to the underside of the
horizontally disposed step portion and extend upwardly and inwardly
therefrom for connection to the cab. If desired, the forward end of
the running board may be secured to a mud flap secured to the
vehicle cab at the rearward end of the wheel opening.
Inventors: |
Okland; Merlyn C. (Story City,
IA) |
Family
ID: |
24709280 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/675,155 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1976 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/848;
280/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
3/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
3/00 (20060101); B62B 009/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/163,152,153,153.5,154,155 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Song; Robert R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees
& Sease
Claims
I claim:
1. A running board for use in combination with a vehicle having a
cab mounted on a vehicle frame, front and rear wheels supporting
said frame, said cab having a front wheel opening and a
horizontally disposed lower portion extending rearwardly from said
wheel opening, said running board comprising:
an elongated step member having in cross section a vertically
disposed support portion, a horizontally disposed step portion
extending outwardly from the lower end of said support portion, and
a downwardly disposed outer end portion extending downwardly from
the outer end of said step portion;
said support portion having means for securing its uppper edge to
said horizontally disposed lower portion of said cab;
a plurality of elongated rigid reinforcing members being secured to
the underside of said step portion and extending transversely
thereof to terminate at inner ends located inwardly from said step
member,
a plurality of elongated braces each secured at its lower end to
corresponding one of said inner ends of said reinforcing members by
means permitting adjustable pivotal movement during mounting about
a horizontal axis, said brace extending upwardly therefrom for
securement to said vehicle frame at a point located inwardly of
said upper end of said step member.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said step member includes
a forward end which terminates adjacent said wheel opening with
said step portion thereof being positioned below said lower portion
of said cab, a mud flap secured at its upper end to said cab and
extending downwardly therefrom to said forward end of said step
portion of said step member, means operatively securing said mud
flap to said step member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a running board and more particularly to
a running board for use with pickups, vans, recreational vehicles,
etc.
Conventional vehicles of the type described hereinabove ordinarily
do not have running boards which creates a problem in getting into
the vehicle. A further problem encountered in the lack of running
boards is that mud, rocks, dirt or the like is carried by the shoes
into the interior of the cab. A still further disadvantage in the
lack of running boards is that the front wheels of the vehicle tend
to throw rocks upwardly and rearwardly into contact with the lower
side of the vehicle cab. Running boards have been provided
heretofore, but a convenient means has not been provided for
securing the same to the vehicle cab.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an
improved running board.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
running board for vehicles such as pickups, vans, recreational
vehicles, etc.
A further object of the invention is to provide a running board for
a vehicle including novel means for securing the same to the
vehicle cab rather than the vehicle frame.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a running
board for a vehicle which prevents the front wheels of the vehicle
from throwing rocks or the like upwardly into engagement with the
side of the cab.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a running
board which is durable in use, refined in appearance and economical
of manufacture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the running
board of this invention mounted on a vehicle:
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view seen on lines 2--2 of FIG.
1:
FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the running board with portions
thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention:
FIG. 4 is a sectional view seen on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3:
FIG. 5 is a view seen on lines 5--5 of FIG. 3:
FIG. 6 is an end view as seen on lines 6--6 of FIG. 3:
FIG. 7 is a partial rear perspective view of the modified form of
the device; and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except that a modified form of
the device is illustrated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The running board of this invention is referred to generally by the
reference numeral 10 and is designed to be attached to a vehicle
12. Vehicle 12 is of conventional design and comprises a cab 14
mounted to the vehicle frame in conventional fashion. Cab 14 is
provided with a front wheel opening 16 and a horizontally disposed
lower side portion 18. Cab 14 is also provided with a door 20.
Running board 10 generally comprises a horizontally disposed step
portion 22 and a support member 24 which extends upwardly from the
inner end thereof. The preferred embodiment of the running board is
disclosed in FIG. 2 wherein support member 24 is integrally formed
with the step portion 22. Running board 10 is also provided with an
outer end portion 26 which extends downwardly from the outer end of
step portion 22.
Running board 10 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart
supports 28 secured to the underside thereof by welding or the like
and which are disposed transversely with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the running board. As seen in FIG. 2, the
inner ends of the supports 28 are disposed inwardly of support
member 24. A brace 30 is secured at its lower outer end to the
inner end of each of the supports 28 by bolt 32 as seen in FIG. 2.
The inner end of brace 30 is secured to cab 14 by bolt 34. A
plurality of threaded members such as screws 36 extend through
openings 38 in support member 24 and are threadably received by the
cab 14. As seen in FIG. 2, the upper end of support member 24 is
positioned adjacent the lower portion 18 of the cab. The means by
which the running board 10 is secured to the cab insures that the
running board will move with the cab and insures that the running
board will have the necessary support. As seen in FIG. 1, the
forward end 40 of the running board 10 is disposed closely adjacent
the rearward end of the wheel opening 16. As also illustrated in
FIG. 1, the rearward end 42 of running board 10 is disposed
rearwardly of the rearward edge of door 20.
The running board is installed as previously described and provides
a convenient step for persons getting into the cab 14. The running
board 10 also prevents the front wheel 44 from throwing rocks
upwardly and rearwardly onto the lower sides of the cab since the
forward end 40 is disposed closely adjacent the wheel opening and
since the horizontal step portion 22 extends outwardly from the
side of the cab.
If desired, a mud flap 46 may be employed in combination with the
running board. FIG. 1 illustrates a flexible mud flap 46 secured to
the cab 14 adjacent the rearward portion of the wheel opening 16.
The mud flap 46 further aids in preventing rocks or the like from
being thrown upwardly into engagement with the side of the cab.
Additionally, the mud flap 46 may be used to provide additional
support for the forward end of the running board 10 such as seen in
FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 2, the forwardmost support 28 is secured to
the mud flap 46 by bolts 48 extending therethrough and by the bolt
32 which also extends therethrough as illustrated. FIG. 7
illustrates a modified form of the mud flap wherein the mud flap
46' is constructed of the same material as the running board. FIG.
8 illustrates a modified form of the support member 24 and it can
be seen that the support member 24' is of separate construction as
opposed to the unitary construction or integral construction of
FIG. 2.
Thus it can be seen that a novel running board has been provided
which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
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